Apparatus for drying



(No Model.)

P. s; BLAIR.

APPAR-ATUSYYFOR DRYING. No. 508,363. Patented N0v.- 7, 1893.

A WITNESSES: I INVENTO/f I I W C I J #513 A TTOHNE YS "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK S. BLAIR, OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

APPARATUS FOR DRYING.-

. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 508,363, dated lil ovember 7,1893. Application filed January 27,1 91. Serial No. 379,331. (a node.) I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK S. BLAIR, residing at Nashville,in the county of Davidson and State of Tennessee, have invented an Improved Apparatus for Drying, Handling, and Preserving Grain, Potatoes,v Fruit, &c.; and I do hereby declare that-the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others to make and use the .same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for drying and preserving grain and seeds While stored in bulk on common floors, in ordinary elevator bins or in the hold I of a vessel.

Heretofore grain and seeds when lying in bulk on floors or in elevator bins could be saved from damage only by being frequently moved and exposed to a change of air and even with the constant application of such methods the vitality of the seeds is greatly lessened in even so short a'time as one year. The perfect preservation of grain and-seeds, for very extended periods of time, requires frequent exposure to fresh dry air and the constantmaintenance'of a degree of temper-- ature so low as to prevent not only the at tacks of insects but the presence of mustiness or other evidences of decay. .In many'localities the air is frequently so warm and humid as to cause many kinds of grains to rapidly deteriorate. The application of my invention obviates all possibilit of damage from such causes. 7 I

The object of my invention is to dry the articleif' damp, or it dry to preserve it sound and sweet with unimpaired vitality fora great length of time Without the slightest necessity of moving it while under treatment, and to this end my invention consists in the app'aratus which provides for the desiccation and refrigeration of the mass of bulk grain or seeds by-means of the liberation and expan sion of compressed air in or near the grain or seeds in conjunction with the improved appliances described in this specification.

Figure 1 represents a top plan view of a conical bottomed noneair-tight grain receptacle equipped with-perforated induction pipes and compressed air cooling reservoir. Fig.

' 2 represents a detail perspective view of perforated induction pipe. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a series of non-air-tight grain receptacles and of the supply pipe and valves connecting the compressed air cooling reservoir. Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the construction disclosed in Fig. 1.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

In Fig. 1, A is'a non-air-tight grainreceptacle constructed of any desirable material and preferably in a rectangular shape, having the usual contracted downward inclined bottom X. By non-air-tight it is meant that the receptacle is not adapted to hold airuuder pressure. In this instance it isrepresented as having a conical bottom in order thatihe dis'charge of thecontents through the opening H may be easy and complete when desired. I

C is a'coolingreservoir for compressed air the same being of any'su'itable construction and adapted to hold air at such pressure as maybe. necessary to insure the desired'degree of refrigeration when expanded in the contents of the bin A. I

D is an induction pipe extending entirely around theinside of and conforming to the rectangular shape of the bin at or a little below the points where the walls and the sloping bottom join. From each section of this pipe, lying upon the inclined surface of the bottom thereexten dparallel branches or short jet arms d which project in a downward direction toward the center of the bin as shown.

B is a supply pipe adapted to hold air und'erpressure and connecting the reservoir 0 at b with the induction pipe D at bf where the latter branches to the right and left.

V is a valve for cutting off the supply of compressed air.

In Fig. 2, F shows the form of perforation deemed preferable in the induction pipe and which is formed by a semi-circular notch cut in the under side of the pipe and F shows such opening covered with suitable wire cloth of a very fine mesh. The purpose of a very fine mesh is to retard the flow of air and main: tain a degree of compression in the supply and induction pipes. This opening should extend along the length of the pipe a distance equal to its diameter, and should cut therein.

into the pipe one half its diameter. The distance betweenthe opening on the pipe should be about equal to the distance between the pipes. This latter distance may be varied anywhere from six inches to two feet or more according to the depth of the grain. It will be observed that by having the openings F, F cut the same length as the diameters of the pipe branches or jet arms d, and let into said arms half their diameters, extra large outlets are provided for the escape of the compressed air into the bin. It is not necessary to use an induction pipe of large diameter, two inches being sufficient for the largest bins.

G is a cap placed over the end of the induction pipe to prevent the exit of air at the end and to cause it to flow uniformly through the openings F. The use of the cap G is to close the end of thepipe and any-other device securing thatend would answer. The induction pipe should always be so placed as to bring the openings directly at the under side of the pipes thereby allowing no dirt or other obstructive matter to accumulate The accumulation of dirt, 650., under perforated false bottoms is a great and constant source of annoyance and expense. These troubles are avoided by the use of properly placed induction pipes.

In the operation of my apparatus the air to be applied to the grain or seeds is first compressed by an air-compressor not shown, to a desirable degree of pressure transferred to the cooling reservoir 0 and while still under pressure it is cooled either by causing it to pass through cold water or preferably through a number of small tubes surrounded by cold water. When the degree of pressure in the reservoir is sufiicient the valve V is opened and the air rushes into the induction pipe D and escapes, through the finely meshed. wire cloth, into the article under treatment and quickly pervades the entire mass. Oompressed air cooled while under pressure rapidly absorbs a great quantity of heat at the point of expansion, and as the grains nearest that pointlose their excess heat the expanded air passes them and takes up the surplus heat from thesuccecding grains, and so on until in ashort time the entire mass is both cool and dry. By this method the temperature of the grain may very easily and cheaply be reduced to the freezing point, orbelow if desired, even in the hottest seasons, thereby insuring the perfect preservation of the grain. This operation may be simultaneously applied to a series of bins in direct connection with the reservoir 0; but, as often happens, some bin may have in it less than others of the same series, and then it would receive an undue proportion of air. In general it is best to treat the bins successively, as can be shown in Fig. 3. When the contents of bin A have been treated sufticiently, the valves V and the first V being opened, and the valves V of the first bin pipe and V being closed the process is repeated in bin A.

It can be readily seen that all the valves V V V &c., and the main supply pipe may be dispensed with if the outer end of the main supply pipe is tightlycloserl. In such event if all the other valves .in the bin pipes are kept closed except the valve leading tothe bin under treatment, the system will be cheapened and simplified, and equally as eifective.

A striking advantage of my apparatusis its easy and cheap applicability to any structure ordinarily used to hold bulk grain,'requiring as it does no changes further than-boring one hole through which to introduce the induction pipe.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In an apparatus of the class described, the combination with a rectangular bin havinga contracted conical bottom; of a rectangular frame ofinduction piping D disposed within the bin at a point directly above the contracted or conical bottom, and having a series .of downwardly inclined jet-arms,or branches d, extended inwardly and be ow the side portions thereof to conform to the'slope'of the sides of the conical bottom,= saidjet'arms or branches having screened outlets in theiriunder sides, a compressed air receiver,l=and a valved supply pipe connected to said'recei-ver andsaid frame of induction piping, substantially as set forth.

FRED. S. BLAIR. Witnesses:

A. W. WHARTON, J. C. WHARTON. 

